Medicine
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Peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) is a common peripheral neural disease. Acupuncture treatment combined with PFP rehabilitation exercises is a routine method of PFP treatment. This article is to provide a new visual and objective evaluation method for exploring the mechanism and efficacy of acupuncture treatment on PFP, and develop an interactive augmented facial nerve function rehabilitation training system with multiple training models. ⋯ ChiCTR1800019463.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Uracil-tegafur vs fluorouracil as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in Stage II and III colon cancer: A nationwide cohort study and meta-analysis.
We conducted a population-based cohort study enrolling patients with Stage II and III colon cancer receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with uracil and tegafur (UFT) or fluorouracil (5-FU) from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 to 2015. The outcomes of the current study were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated by multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models. ⋯ In the nationwide cohort study, UFT (14,486 patients) showed DFS similar to postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (adjusted HR 1.037; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.954-1.126; P = .397) and OS (adjusted HR 0.964; 95% CI 0.891-1.041; P = .349) compared with the 5-FU (866 patients). Our meta-analysis confirmed the similarity of effectiveness and found the incidence of leucopaenia was statistically significantly reduced in UFT (risk ratio 0.12; 95% CI 0.02-0.67; I2 = 0%). Through our analysis, we have confirmed that UFT is a well-tolerated adjuvant therapy choice, and has similar treatment efficacy as 5-FU in terms of DFS and OS in patients with Stage II and III colon cancer.
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Leptomeningeal collateral flow (LMF) is associated with infarct area and clinical outcome for ischemic stroke patients. Although LMF can be detected by multiple imaging methods, but their diagnostic performance is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic validity or reliability of noninvasive image methods in assessing LMF. ⋯ CTP shows a good validity and reliability, but its diagnostic value needs more evidence. FLAIR is a good modality to assess LMF. These image methods had better validity and reliability to evaluate LMF of patients receiving thrombolysis or endovascular treatment than all ischemic stroke patients.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Breast surgery for young women with early-stage breast cancer: Mastectomy or breast-conserving therapy?
Whether breast-conserving therapy (BCT) should be chosen as a local treatment for young women with early-stage breast cancer is controversial. This study compared the survival benefits of BCT or mastectomy in young women under 40 with early-stage breast cancer and further explored age-stratified outcomes. This study investigated whether there is a survival benefit when young women undergo BCT compared with mastectomy. ⋯ In stratified analysis according to the different ages, the survival benefit of BCT was more pronounced in the slightly older (36-40 years) group while there was no significant survival difference in the younger group (18-35 years). In young women with early-stage breast cancer, BCT showed survival benefits that were at least no worse than mastectomy, and these benefits were even better in the 36 to 40 years age group. Young age may not be a contraindication for BCT.
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Japan is one of the few countries that consider the application of permanent makeup a medical procedure, and only doctors and nurses are allowed to perform this procedure. Studies on the safety and esthetic outcomes of permanent makeup procedures are not available, although there are studies that report allergies and other complications associated with permanent makeup. Thus, we aimed to study the complications and esthetic outcomes of permanent makeup. ⋯ No allergies were observed, and the infection rate was quite low (0.2%). Thus, our results suggest that permanent makeup procedures are safe and are associated with high client satisfaction. We must note that the appropriate environment, equipment, and techniques are important prerequisites.